Let's Talk Infrastructure

The Women in Concrete luncheon highlights concrete's important ‘supporting' role.

The Women in Concrete Luncheon & Forum offers a networking opportunity to a vital group of industry professionals.

Infrastructure, a hot topic in the concrete industry, will be the focus of the annual Women in Concrete Luncheon & Forum at World of Concrete, sponsored by The Concrete Producer and Concrete Construction magazines. Three influential women in our industry will share the unique career paths they have taken and ways in which they, as well as attendees, can improve the industry and our country's infrastructure.

An association's influence

Kelly Page, executive/technical director of the International Concrete Repair Institute (ICRI), is a key woman to know in the arena of concrete infrastructure and repair. Before accepting her current position in 2001, Page served as secretary on the ICRI board of directors. She was named an ICRI Fellow in 2000 and an ACI Fellow in 2002. In her many years in the concrete repair industry, Page was an independent sales representative for several materials companies, engineering editor for Concrete International, magazine, and a training coordinator for the Portland Cement Association. She holds a degree in Civil Engineering from Marquette University.

“Infrastructure is key to the economic recovery of our nation, and the construction industry,” says Page. “Concrete is at the core of this work and will only continue to be more prevalent.”

Marketing to spread awareness

“Speaking at the Women in Concrete luncheon is a chance to connect with other women in the industry in an intimate setting. I'm looking forward to sharing my experiences and my enthusiasm for concrete construction,” says Diana Sanicki, marketing manager for Doka USA Ltd.

Sanicki has experienced the industry from many perspectives. One day she is filming a construction jobsite video and interacting with customers, and the next day she is organizing and setting up a tradeshow.

Seeing her company's work in action and talking to customers gives Sanicki a sense of the industry's future.

Leading by example

Kari Yuers, president and CEO of Kryton International Inc., doesn't feel it's enough to run a company. She believes to be successful you must be involved; you must know what's going on in your industry and try to make a difference. Through ACI, she serves on several committees that help establish industry standards, and promotes training and mentoring activities.

Although Yuers comes from a concrete family—her father founded Kryton in 1973—she wasn't immediately sold on the industry. She studied psychology at the University of British Columbia and tried her hand at several jobs before returning to Kryton in 1991. Her hands-on work in every department of the company made her what she is today: an informed leader who is involved in the industry from the ground up.

Don't miss the event!

The sixth annual Women in Concrete Luncheon & Forum will be held Wednesday, Jan. 18, at noon at the Las Vegas Convention Center. New this year, attendees can vote for the Woman of Distinction Award, honoring a woman of influence in the concrete industry. Nominate a Woman of Distinction at www.womeninconcrete.org by Jan. 10. For event information and registration, visit www.worldofconcrete.com.

Kari Moosmann is cofounder of the Women in Concrete Alliance, an online networking resource for women in the concrete industry. E-mail info@womeninconcrete.org. Visit www.womeninconcrete.org to follow the group on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.